U.N. Ranks Norway Best Place to Live; U.S. Places 8th

[Logan13]

U.N. Ranks Norway Best Place to Live; U.S. Places 8th
AP
Nov. 09, 2006
OSLO, Norway — The United Nations ranked Norway as the world's best nation to live in for a sixth consecutive year, prompting aid minister to tell Norwegians to stop whining about wanting more.

Oil-rich Norway, with its generous welfare state, topped the U.N. Development Program's human development index, based on such things as life expectancy, education and income. Iceland was No. 2, followed by Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, Japan and the United States.

Despite wealth, high levels of education, low unemployment, and an economic boom, Norwegians often complain of high taxes and of weaknesses in their cradle-to-grave welfare state, such as waiting lists at hospitals, and a shortage of public care for both children and the elderly.

"There are unsolved problems in Norway, but let us battle this culture of whining, and look at the future with optimism," Aid Minister Erik Solheim was quoted as saying in an interview with the Norwegian news agency NTB.

According to the study, Norwegians earn 40 times more than the studies lowest ranked country, Niger, live almost twice as long and have nearly five times the literary rate.

Solheim said instead of complaining, Norwegians should work on solving those problems, and to share their wealth with poorer countries. Norway is already one of the world's most generous foreign aid donors per capita, giving nearly 1 percent of its gross national product.

"The top place should make us show humility," said Solheim in the NTB interview. "Norway should be seen as a modern, rich and successful society, but should also be seen as a generous country. The world must see us as rich and generous, not rich and miserly."

Norway, a nation of 4.6 million people, is the world's third largest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia.

The five countries with the lowest scores were Guinea-Bissau in 173rd place, Burkina Faso as 174, Mali as 175, Sierra Leone as 176, and Niger 177. The report was not able to rank 17 countries, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, because there was insufficient data.

[Prada]

Interesting Iceland and Norway surprised me. More so the former over the latter. Norway has an intersting social program but I didnt know Iceland would be up there, they do have some interesting energy policies.

[Kärnfysikern]

island, norway, sweden, canada.

I dont know what kind of ruling party australia has and ireland. But seems like social democratic countries are succesfull

Those norweigan bastards, we swedes should never have let them become independent. There should be a greater scandinavian state!!

But the taxes and prices in norway is truly horrible. Sweden is a expensive country, but norway is just plain ridicilous. I could never imagine living there unless I have a realy fat salary.

One thing I got to give them is that norway is a breathtakingly beautifull country. Its even nicer than the swedish mountain areas.

Wierd that denmark isnt on the list, denmark seems to have the best economy right now after norway of the scandinavian countries.

[Kale]

island, norway, sweden, canada.

I dont know what kind of ruling party australia has and ireland. But seems like social democratic countries are succesfull

Those norweigan bastards, we swedes should never have let them become independent. There should be a greater scandinavian state!!

But the taxes and prices in norway is truly horrible. Sweden is a expensive country, but norway is just plain ridicilous. I could never imagine living there unless I have a realy fat salary.

One thing I got to give them is that norway is a breathtakingly beautifull country. Its even nicer than the swedish mountain areas.

Wierd that denmark isnt on the list, denmark seems to have the best economy right now after norway of the scandinavian countries.

Australia is a welfare state. Iceland ? How the fvck did that happen, obviously having your ass frozen off 12 months of the year isnt a factor

[Logan13]

island, norway, sweden, canada.

I dont know what kind of ruling party australia has and ireland. But seems like social democratic countries are succesfull

Great, now would you mind forwarding this information on to the Mexicans. They are trying so hard to get into the 8th best nation to live in, why not go for the top 3 countries to live in instead.....

[Kale]

Great, now would you mind forwarding this information on to the Mexicans. They are trying so hard to get into the 8th best nation to live in, why not go for the top 3 countries to live in instead.....

Um... can you just make that the top two ?

[Logan13]

I was shocked to see that none of the Middles East countries made the top 25. Especially after so many in this forum and the old Political forum talked them up so much. I'll bet that after Iran gets full nuclear power, they will make it on the top 25 or better. I honestly feel that if the standard of living in a country is sub-par, they should be spending their resources on making it better. Nuclear capabilities are not going to improve the lives of the citizens, it will only maintain the quality of life among the leadership.

[Kärnfysikern]

Great, now would you mind forwarding this information on to the Mexicans. They are trying so hard to get into the 8th best nation to live in, why not go for the top 3 countries to live in instead.....

Il tell all the arabs and former soviet people getting here that they should go to the united states instead I wont miss em

Sweden has a higher population of imigrants than the united states(if counting number of people living here not born in sweden compared to the same in america).

[Kärnfysikern]

I was shocked to see that none of the Middles East countries made the top 25. Especially after so many in this forum and the old Political forum talked them up so much. I'll bet that after Iran gets full nuclear power, they will make it on the top 25 or better. I honestly feel that if the standard of living in a country is sub-par, they should be spending their resources on making it better. Nuclear capabilities are not going to improve the lives of the citizens, it will only maintain the quality of life among the leadership.

correction. nuclear energy can defenetly increase quality of living. Cutting down on polution, cheap electricity, more oil to sell ect.

If you factor in the expenses on the healthcare system from the polution from fossile fuels they are far more expensive as a energy source than nuclear power is.

[Logan13]

Il tell all the arabs and former soviet people getting here that they should go to the united states instead I wont miss em

Sweden has a higher population of imigrants than the united states(if counting number of people living here not born in sweden compared to the same in america).

Perhaps, but it is the illegal population that concerns me, all 12 - 20 million of them over here. This is a larger population than Sweden has (9 million) in the whole country.

[Logan13]

correction. nuclear energy can defenetly increase quality of living. Cutting down on polution, cheap electricity, more oil to sell ect.

If you factor in the expenses on the healthcare system from the polution from fossile fuels they are far more expensive as a energy source than nuclear power is.

As I understand it, Iranians do not pay much for power as it is because of their vast resources. So the fact is, a citizens financial obligation will not change. Iran's leadership could give a shit about pollution. The leadership will enjoy the spoils of it though......

[RA]

A report put out by the U.N. Only thing those are good for is lining bird cages

[Kärnfysikern]

Perhaps, but it is the illegal population that concerns me, all 12 - 20 million of them over here. This is a larger population than Sweden has (9 million) in the whole country.

Yeah I would be worried to. We dont have the illegal problem offcourse because we let every ****er in ****ing stupid if you ask me. We have had one nutcracker claiming illegal aliens should have the right to free healthcare in sweden but most swedes laugh at that fortunaly.

As I understand it, Iranians do not pay much for power as it is because of their vast resources. So the fact is, a citizens financial obligation will not change. Iran's leadership could give a shit about pollution. The leadership will enjoy the spoils of it though......

Well I didnt say that is what Iran wants . I meant generaly.
I am saying that nuclear power can be a key part in a poor nations attemt to rise.

Its far better than if poor nations would go the same path as we did with fossile fuels. Best if they start of with a clean energy source. I doubt the world can handle 3 billion people in developing countries starting to rely on fossile fuels while they try to achieve our standard of living, it would be a absolutely horrible disaster.

[JohnboyF]

Canada 6